Press Release

Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability Announces Public Meeting to Vote on Finalists for Chicago Police Superintendent

Date:

November 9, 2026

CHICAGO, IL- After four months of searching for Chicago’s next Superintendent, the
Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is preparing to select its
three finalists. The Commission will hold a public meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at
6:30 p.m. at Malcolm X College (1900 W. Jackson Blvd.), where Commissioners will vote on the
three candidates whose names will be sent to Mayor Brandon Johnson for consideration.

“This is one of the most important decisions we make as a Commission, and we know how
much is at stake for Chicago,” said Commission President Remel Terry. “We’ve spent the last
four months listening to residents, talking with police officers and public safety experts, and
getting to know the candidates. We want to put forward three people who understand the
challenges facing our city and have the experience and leadership to move the Police
Department forward.”

The search began on July 16 following the retirement of former Superintendent Larry Snelling.
Under City Ordinance, the Commission has 120 days to conduct a nationwide search and
submit three candidates to the Mayor. The ordinance also requires the Commission to hold at
least four public hearings, including one on the North, South, and West Sides of the city, to hear
directly from Chicagoans about what they want in the next Superintendent.

To assist with the search, the Commission hired Ralph Andersen & Associates, a national
executive search firm, in August. Applications opened August 25 and closed on September 24,
with 46 people applying for the position.

Over the last several months, the Commission has worked to make sure Chicagoans had a
voice in this process. The Commission held eight public listening sessions across Chicago,
including one specifically for youth and another conducted entirely in Spanish. These sessions
gave residents an opportunity to share what they want to see in the next Superintendent, from
the qualities and experience candidates should bring to the job to the public safety issues they
believe should be prioritized. Eighteen District Councils hosted neighborhood listening sessions,
giving residents additional opportunities to share their perspectives.

The Commission also received more than 400 online responses from community members,
including 110 from CPD personnel. CCPSA staff held 11 additional focus groups with community
organizations and other stakeholders and interviewed 22 subject matter experts, including law
enforcement leaders, academics, and public safety professionals.

“We heard from many people, including members of the Chicago Police Department, who
shared varied perspectives on what they would like to see in the next Superintendent,” said
Commissioner Sandra Wortham.“Throughout this search, we worked to ensure those
perspectives were a part of this process.”

Despite the different perspectives, several priorities came up repeatedly: reducing violent crime,
building trust between police and communities, strengthening community policing efforts,
making progress on the consent decree, and improving officer wellness and morale.
Residents also emphasized the need for a Superintendent who understands Chicago,
communicates openly, and is willing to work with communities and officers to address public
safety challenges.

The Commission has spent the past several weeks reviewing applications, interviewing
candidates, and evaluating their experience, qualifications, and approach to leading the Chicago
Police Department.

“There’s no shortage of opinions about what Chicago needs from its next Superintendent, and
that’s exactly why hearing from so many different people mattered,” President Terry added. “At
the end of the day, we’re looking for someone who can bring people together, make difficult
decisions, and lead a Department that Chicagoans have confidence in.”
The Commission will hold its public meeting on Thursday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Malcolm
X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd. The meeting is open to the public and residents are
encouraged to attend.

Following the vote, the three finalists’ names will be formally submitted to Mayor Brandon
Johnson. Under the ordinance, the Mayor will have 30 days to select one of the candidates or
reject the list and provide the Commission with a written explanation. If the Mayor rejects the list,
the Commission must submit three new candidates within 30 days.

Once the Mayor selects a candidate, the appointment will move through the City Council’s
approval process.

More information about the meeting and the Superintendent search is available at
ccpsa.chicago.gov.

Commissioners will be available to answer questions from the media following the public
meeting.

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